Appreciate the Art, Architecture and History of Long Island’s Churches

Long Island congregations will open their doors to the community this weekend for an appreciation of art, architecture and history during “Sacred Sites Open House Weekend.”

This is the fourth year the New York Landmarks Conservancy has held the event and this year congregations in Bridgehampton, Greenport, Patchogue and Sag Harbor will participate.

“The Open House Weekend is a perfect opportunity to view the magnificent religious art and architecture of these sacred sites and truly be a tourist in your own town, while learning about the histories of congregations present and past,” Peg Breen, President of the Landmarks Conservancy said.

The Presbyterian Church: Photo from New York Landmarks Conservancy

The theme of this year’s weekend is how immigration and migration have shaped New York. The weekend will focus on the histories and contributions of New York’s diverse immigrant communities.

“Religious institutions are at the heart of every community and a place where previous immigrant groups have made their impact, new immigrants gather to share their cultural heritage and traditions, and future generations will thrive,” Breen said. “Nowhere in the United States is this better demonstrated than right here in New York with its rich diversity of religions and ecclesiastical building.”

Long Island congregations participating to date are:

Bridgehampton The Presbyterian Church: 2429 Montauk Highway, May 17 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and May 18 Noon to 4 p.m. This church has been holding services since 1670, although the current building is actually the third church and was built in 1842.

Greenport Congregation Tifereth Israel: 519 4th St., May 18, Noon to 3 p.m. A small group of immigrants from Eastern Europe founded this synagogue in the late 1800s.

Sag Harbor First Presbyterian Church, “The Old Whalers’ Church”: 44 Union St., May 18, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Designed by Minard Lafever and built in 1844, the First Presbyterian Church of Sag Harbor is an example of Egyptian Revival style and is a National Historic Landmark.

Patchogue St. Paul’s Episcopal Church: 31 Rider Ave., May 17, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. St. Paul’s was established in 1843 and is the fourth oldest Episcopal Church in Suffolk County.

For more information and a complete list of sacred sites participating in the Landmarks Conservancy’s Open House Weekend visit www.nylandmarks.org.

Congregation Tifereth Israel: Photo from New York Landmarks Conservancy